Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier cleared over expenses

ALMOST all the expenses claimed by Canterbury and Whitstable Tory MP Julian Brazier have been allowed by parliamentary investigators.

An inquiry by Sir Thomas Legg concluded that the MP only has to repay mobile phone costs of £248.90.

But as he already voluntarily repaid more than £400 for other items he has nothing left to pay.

Mr Brazier said he was pleased with the decision. He said: "I am relieved it is all over. It is especially good to know Sir Thomas accepted my arguments about the membership of the Travellers Club, which I had always argued saved the taxpayer thousands of pounds a year because it gave me access to bedrooms that were less than half the price of equivalent hotel accommodation."

The items he voluntarily repaid included bedding for his spare room and a Christmas bonus to staff at the Travellers Club.

Sir Thomas had been investigating £5,305.92 in claims by the MP after probing four years of accounts.

They included a £1,000-a-year membership of the Travellers Club and hotel costs of almost £2,000.